Two fire districts recipients of $2,500 donations

The Colchester Fire Protection District and the Blandinsville-Hire Fire District have each received $2,500 donations thanks to local farmer Jerry Moon and America’s Farmers Grow Communities.

Sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, which is the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, Grow Communities provides farmers in eligible counties the chance to win a donation for a local non-profit organization of their choice, according to a news release. To further support counties declared natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture because of the drought this year, winning farmers in these counties are able to direct double donations — a total of $5,000.

McDonough County was declared a disaster area by the USDA, giving Moon the opportunity to choose two organizations to receive $2,500 donations. He selected the Colchester Fire Protection District and the Blandinsville-Hire Fire District.

The Colchester Fire Protection District has not yet determined how the funds will be allocated.The Blandinsville-Hire Fire District will use the donation to purchase new equipment.

“I chose the fire districts to receive these donations because they have helped me out in the past when I needed them,” Moon said in a release.

This year, the Monsanto Fund will invest nearly $6 million in rural America through Grow Communities, which includes double donations for counties impacted by the historic drought. In Illinois, $480,000 is being given across 96 counties.

For a complete list of Grow Communities winners and more program information, please visit growcommunities.com.